left in lead 1st, jumped markedly right throughout, headed 5th, pushed along after 3 out and dropped away
mid-division, not fluent 3 out and pushed along, plugged on same pace
tracked leaders, pulled up before 3rd
towards rear, not fluent 4 out and struggling
prominent, led 5th, pushed along and strongly challenged after 3 out, headed 2 out and ridden, kept on until no extra run-in and lost 2nd close home
towards rear, hampered 1st, always well behind, pulled up
in rear, tailed off throughout
mid-division, headway to press leaders 3 out, pushed along home turn, weakened 2 out
rear mid-division, headway 5th, strongly pressed leader after 3 out, led 2 out and ridden, kept on well and went clear run-in
chased leaders, ridden home turn and outpaced, stayed on from before last, took 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
towards rear, always well behind, pulled up
led, tried to refuse 1st and fell
front mid-division, badly hampered and brought down 1st
King Ottokar, a dual winner on the Flat, is improving with experience over timber. Gentle River won the bumper on this card 12 months ago and Keep Running won a maiden here last month having a first run in the UK, though is penalised. Basford was highly tried after winning a Carlisle bumper last season but one could not fail to be impressed by SERGEANT WILSON at Taunton in the spring. Despite bolting on the way to post, he won his bumper by 17 lengths and looked as though he could have gone around again. The former pointer Imperial Alex may do better over fences.
Keep Running (FR) 2-1 (11-2) Jumped right, hampered 1st, soon led, wandered into 4 out, mistake and headed, led again before last, clear flat, readily, won at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f mdn (4) gd in Sep beating Stroll On By (11-4) by 8 1/2l, 10 ran.
Basford (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) Mid-division, lost place over 6f out, well behind final 4f, 15th of 18, dist behind Lookaway (11-4) at Aintree 2m 1f (1) gs in Apr.
Gentle River 14-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, raced keenly, led 14f out, edged right over 1f out, soon headed narrowly, led inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f (5) gs in Oct beating Largy Reach (11-0) by 3 1/4l, 8 ran.
Imperial Alex (IRE) 9-2 (12-2) Twrds rr until prog aftr 4th, 8th from 6out, cl 3rd well aftr 3out, held in 5th when left fair 4th 2out, 4th of 15, 11 1/2l behind Lord Snootie (12-2) at Ballindenisk 3m mdn Good - Yielding in May.
King Ottokar (FR) 9-4 (11-4) Chased leaders, beaten 2 out, kept on flat, 4th of 13, 4 1/4l behind Monte Igueldo (11-4) at Worcester 2m mdn (4) gs in Sep.
Meetmelater (IRE) 150-1 (11-4) Prominent, led after 3rd, ridden after 2 out, headed approaching last, stayed on but always held, 2nd of 6, 5 1/2l behind Are U Wise To That (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn (4) gs in Oct.
Yeomen Warder (IRE) 4-7fav (11-7) Hdwy 10; led 4 out; lft clr 2 out; held on wl, won at Larkhill 2m 4f mdn sft in Dec beating Don't Ask Fitz (11-7) by 3l, 9 ran.
Gingerbred 7-2 (11-4) Ref 4, at Vauterhill 3m mdn gs in May.
Gwennie May Boy (IRE) Mahler gelding out of Samsha.
Iron D'ex (FR) 25-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, mistake 3 out, soon ridden, 3rd and no extra 2 out, 3rd of 10, 15l behind Keep Running (11-2) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f mdn (4) gd in Sep.
King Of The Hill (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Ww twrds rr, 6th 1/2way, prog in 3rd bef 2out, wknd to 4th & well held bef last, ko flat, 4th of 7, 6l behind Doyen Star (11-11) at Rathcannon 3m mdn gd in Apr.
Sergeant Wilson (IRE) 11-1 (10-7) Unruly and unseated rider paddock, mid-division, headway into 3rd home turn, led over 2f out, galloped on strongly to draw well clear, very easily, won at Taunton 2m (5) sft in Mar beating Major Fortune (10-7) by 17l, 10 ran.
Trick Of The Tail (IRE) 5-4fav (11-2) Held up in touch, pushed along and switched right 3f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 9l behind Ajp Kingdom (11-4) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f mdn (4) gd in Sep.
Heros De Moutiers (FR) 11-1 (11-4) Mid-division, struggling before 3 out, 11th of 14, dist behind Snake Roll (11-4) at Kelso 2m mdn (4) gs in Oct.
